ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR, a free exhibition that marks the 40th anniversary of Triple R, Melbourne’s iconic and much-loved community radio station opens tomorrow, Friday 18 November 2016.

ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRRis the first-ever exhibition showcasing Australia’s largest and most successful community radio station. This unique exhibition will take you through Triple R’s 40-year evolution from its humble beginnings as an educational broadcaster at RMIT University’s city campus to a station with 440,000 listeners tuning in every week and its own digs in Brunswick.

Triple R has donated a large proportion of its rich archive, built over the past four decades, to the State Library including original artworks, photographs, posters, magazines, videos of live-to-air performances and much more.

Photo credit: Patrick Rodriguez

“Triple R has an incredible archive that is very much part of Melbourne’s story, capturing the cultural heartbeat of the city. With our shared commitment to community, we are thrilled the Library will be the home for this extraordinary collection, and it’s great that people will get to see some of these items for the very first time,” said Kate Torney, CEO of State Library Victoria.

“We are so excited to partner with the State Library on this exhibition. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate the work of Triple R’s volunteer broadcasters over the past 40 years and the many achievements that have been made possible due to the hard work of volunteers and staff, and the amazing support of Triple R subscribers,” said Dave Houchin, Station Manager of Triple R.

ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR explores the history, culture and character of this unique station. Expect to see an eclectic array of materials from Triple R’s archive including signed gig posters, original artworks, rare photographs and Triple R t-shirts and merchandise.

Replica recording booth

Visitors to the exhibition can record their own station ID in a replica recording booth, and experience the diversity and breadth of Triple R’s programs of music and specialist talk shows on display, from pop and punk rock to cultural ventures and local interests.